Key issues

1. Will Kinkaid repeat as SPC champion? With dual- threat quarterback Ford Childress and reigning SPC Player of the Year Sam Eggleston — a running back — headlining 13 returning starters, the pieces are certainly in place to replicate a run. Also consider the Falcons’ lone loss in 2010 came against Holland Hall, which they defeated 27-24 in the title game.

2. Will the coaching carousel finally end at St. Pius? Blake Ware is the Panthers’ third head coach in the past three years. The carousel hasn’t hindered St. Pius’ performance in past years and looks to be over. As the Panthers’ offensive coordinator during the 1999 state title season, Ware is familiar with the program’s tradition, and his winning ways from The Woodlands Christian should translate over.

3. Can the TAPPS area teams bounce back? The 2010 season wasn’t a memorable year for Houston-area teams. At season’s end, no TAPPS team advanced to a state football championship game or even qualified for the final four. The Woodlands Christian, Cypress Christian, Tomball Concordia, Northland Christian and St. Pius all fell in the regional quarterfinals. Fortunately, most of these groups return loaded enough to threaten in 2011.

Key games

Kinkaid at Episcopal
7 p.m., Sept. 30
The past two reigning SPC champions will square off in a highly anticipated battle. By then, it will be their second meeting of the season, but this one should dictate playoff positioning down the road.

Concordia Lutheran at Fort Bend Christian
7 p.m. Oct. 21
Like two other teams last year, Fort Bend Christian was just one game away from upending Concordia Lutheran for the district crown. With homefield advantage on this night, Concordia will look to capitalize during this midseason matchup.

St. Thomas at St. Pius
7 p.m., Nov. 4
As the top two teams in TAPPS 3-I last year and heated rivals, St. Thomas and St. Pius could decide the district champion in this late-season meeting.